Balikpapan – PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) recorded a positive achievement at the beginning of 2026 through an additional oil production of 2,000 barrels per day (bpd) from two High Pour Point Oil (HPPO) wells in the Handil Field, East Kalimantan. Production from the two HPPO wells exceeded the initial estimate stated in the 2026 Work Program & Budget (WP&B), which was around 400 bpd. This addition increases the total contribution of HPPO well production in PHM’s operations to 3,000 bpd, including production from one well in the Tambora Field that has been operating since 2024.

The two HPPO wells in the Handil Field exhibit a specific characteristic: the oil produced has a pour point above the pipeline operating temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. Without special handling, this condition can cause the oil to solidify, hindering flow in the production pipeline.

Senior Manager of Production PHM, Robert Roy Antoni, explained that PHM applies a chemical treatment using Pour Point Depressant (PPD), which lowers the oil’s pour point to 21 degrees Celsius. “The Mahakam Block is a mature field with increasingly challenging well characteristics. However, this does not diminish our commitment to continue seeking solutions so that challenging wells, or wells with high complexity that were previously untouched, can be produced optimally,” said Robert.

Meanwhile, PHM General Manager Setyo Sapto Edi added that successfully producing wells with increasingly complex operational and technical challenges has become part of PHM’s experience and competence. Previously, PHM successfully operated 17 emulsified oil wells using existing facilities in the Tunu, Tambora, Sisi Nubi, Peciko, and South Mahakam gas fields, which cumulatively increased production by up to 5,200 bpd based on wellhead measurements.

The successful development of HPPO and emulsified wells underscores PHM’s commitment to continuous innovation in addressing mature field challenges. With additional production from HPPO and emulsified wells, PHM entered 2026 with an average oil production of 25 thousand bpd, approximately 20 percent above the WP&B target set by the Government. “We believe that sustainable operations and business are key to supporting Pertamina’s energy transition policy, while also contributing to achieving the national production target of 1 million barrels of oil and 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas by 2029 or sooner,” emphasized Setyo.

He further added that the Company believes upstream oil and gas investment, both in exploration and exploitation, is essential to maintaining sustainable oil and gas production and supporting national energy security, in line with the Government’s Asta Cita agenda on energy self-sufficiency.

PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) in Zona 8. It manages upstream oil and gas operations and businesses in accordance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Mahakam Working Area in East Kalimantan. As a Production Sharing Contract Contractor for the Indonesian Government, represented by SKK Migas, PHM, together with other subsidiaries and affiliates of PHI, continues to carry out various innovations and technology applications to deliver energy that is safe, efficient, reliable, compliant, and environmentally friendly in order to support the sustainability of national oil and gas production and realize #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. For further information about PHM and PHI, please visit https://phi.pertamina.com.